Tomorrow they will ban consumption of fish too, says Pinarayi Vijayan

New Delhi | If they have banned the slaughter of cattle today, they will ban the consumption of fish tomorrow, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said today.

Vijayan’s comments came soon after the Centre banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter through an environment ministry notification — ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017′ under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

In a Facebook post in Malayalam, the Chief Minister asked the people to focus their anger against “this uncivilised decision” of the BJP-led government, adding it was “an attempt to destroy the secular fabric” of the country.

“Instead of restraining the Sangh Parivar from assaulting those who transport cattle, the Centre has now entirely banned the slaughter of cattle. This makes it clear who holds the reins of power at the Centre,” Vijayan said.

“Till now, the Sangh Parivar was attacking people in the
name of killing cows. Now they have banned the killing of bulls and buffaloes too. Crores of people in this country need to slaughter these animals for their food. By imposing a ban, the Centre has interfered in their right to food,” the Chief Minister said.

He also said that meat formed a major part of the nutritious diet of the economically weakest.

“This is an intrusion into the people’s right to have food. People focus their angst against this uncivilised decision. If it is ban on cattle slaughtering today, they will ban consumption of fish tomorrow,” Vijayan said.

He also said that the ban will cost lakhs of people their
jobs. “More than 25 lakh of people are working in the leather and other associated industries. Most of them are Dalits and they are going to be the most affected,” he said.